Uncle Tom Moore shares his story for NAIDOC Week
Uncle Tom Moore is a HammondCare Home Care client in the Shoalhaven area a few hours’ drive south of Sydney – not far from the Mission in the Wreck Bay community, Jervis Bay, where his parents raised him and his nine siblings.
Apart from domestic support, HammondCare assists Uncle Tom with transport to events and appointments, keeping him connected with his local community. He often visits other Elders at a nearby care home and volunteers at a local preschool where he ‘reads to the little ones’ and gets to share his personal cultural history.
We asked him a few questions about his time at the Mission, and what NAIDOC Week means for him.
There were very strict rules back then – visitors had to report to the manager, also the local policeman, to sign in and out, and only between the hours of 7am to 5pm. We went to school at the Mission as well. These days Mission kids attend school at the HMAS Albatross naval base nearby.
My parents taught us two main rules: love and respect everyone, especially the Elders. Dad worked as a fisherman while Mum was flat out looking after us. Growing up, we lived on bream, mullet, salmon, whiting. No surprise that I’m not too keen on fish these days!
Our way of life was influenced by the missionaries, celebrating Christmas and other Anglo Saxon rituals. These days I’m a member of the Shoalhaven Aboriginal Community Church; we share the same building as the Anglican Church congregation and are hoping to get our own place soon.
It’s a time when my mob are recognised for our part in this country’s history. I appreciate the opportunity it gives all of us to reflect on that, and to get together and share special memories.
This year NAIDOC Week celebrates 50 years, making it even more special.
It’s a busy time for me! So far I have had three invitations. There’s a flag raising ceremony at the local primary school, and another at the council chambers. Then there’s a special lunch for Elders at the bowling club. There will be a lot of yarning at that one! Luckily they are all on different days.
I’m often invited to give talks at local schools and to perform Welcome to Country for events in the district, and at civic occasions. I am proud to be an Elder and feel very connected to my past and my personal history when I’m representing my culture this way.
These events give me an opportunity to talk to people about country and language.
World peace is definitely number one on my list. And I want to see more recognition for the part us Koori have played in the settlement and growth of Australia – not just during NAIDOC Week. I was disappointed at the result of the recent YES referendum. I really thought it was going to swing the other way; I’m sad about that. I think there’s a lot left to do when it comes to acknowledging and accepting our place in Australia’s history.